The group Emerald , the casino manager, will have to fight to continue to operate games

By decision of 1 December 2000, the City Council Fouras had decided to entrust the management of the casino games to the group Emerald . Early enthusiasm? Interview opportunity to build a three star hotel with a minimum cost to the town? Still, the mayor said at the time had the opportunity to play for the operator to build a hotel of ninety or more rooms and use a car park under a long lease for ninety years .

That leg of the “public” to “private” graciously allowed on commons cringe. But beyond the forms of contract and established the association Fouras Environment Ecology (AFEE) considers its environmental impact disproportionate, the destructive project on a wooded area far green lung of the peninsula, the area around the casino and prairie.

Appeal. Its members then launched in a judicial proceeding. After an initial negative decision by the court of Poitiers October 17, 2002, the appeals court in Bordeaux has just given them due May 23 last. Meanwhile, the situation has changed. Prairie rose in a flood zone and therefore unbuildable. The group Emerald is forced to establish a second smaller project refocused on the present premises.

It also appears that several concurrent analysis suggest the difficulties to live a year Fouras upscale establishment. Discussions that leave the possibility for the operator to continue operations without being challenged to this day. The latest court decision, however, could upset the deal.

The group Emerald appealed the court’s decision in Bordeaux before the Council of State. The approach can leave him again of the time, twenty-four to thirty months or so.

If the State Council is in line with the current concessionaire, the initial conditions prevail. If the dealer loses his battle, he must abandon any claim to the contrary. The Interior Ministry will then ask a new competition in a tender and Emerald is not at all certain to get the operation of games of Four.

AFEE Association in general meeting Tuesday night has drawn this conclusion without any victory to celebrate. Indeed, if the resolution was rescinded, the contract as established at the start is still valid. Much is made by its leaders, is to preserve the environment. They say they are vigilant, however, without wishing to directly intervene in a debate on Emerald and the commune.

Economic issues. If the two parties agreed to establish a contract amendment dealing with the basic operation of games and nothing else, the economic issue could decide to accept a larger common space, which would pave the possibility of the dealer to request a “big game” (baccarat type) and additional slot machines. Emeraude is now playing more cards. The group submitted to the association and the mayor a memorandum of settlement agreement putting an end to litigation. AFEE members did not wish to sign it immediately preferring to settle a contract in good and due form between the two main players. One way to protect themselves from a bad surprise. Because members of the association now know they can seek enforcement of the ruling annulling the authority to operate issued to Emerald . A group that is then in the worst situations in competition and without flexibility. There remains one other certainty, and size, Emerald could he, if he lost the use of games, seek damages to the town? And, if so, how high?

The coming weeks could be decisive.

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CASINO CITY. – Faure The group did not provide security to the signing of the contract, Feb. 27, says Yves Urieta

This is an issue that was undermined left by former Mayor Andrew Labarrère. Yves Urieta was found on his desk, taking up his post. On signing the contract with the casino group Faure, February 27, a deposit of 1.5 million euros should be provided. “She was not paid,” confirmed yesterday Yves Urieta, which on Monday decided, therefore, terminate the lease of the casino. The group Faure, chosen by the board of public utilities and delegations approved by the City Council would take over the management of the premises on June 28 The agreement between the city of Pau, the company operating the Casino de Pau (group Faure) and Charles Massoni (bail) is very clear: “The deposit guarantee is the date of signature.”

Two reminders. Two reminder letters to the group Faure, March 17 and May 4, were sent by André Labarrère. “They have not responded, said yesterday Yves Urieta.

Therefore, the new mayor canceled the contract and demand, Monday, June 10 at the City Council to extend the current concession group Tranchant , time to make a new tender. There was a duty to ensure the continuity of public service. Yves Urieta said yesterday that his decision was taken “in the interest of the city and employees of the casino.”

After selecting the group Faure, questions about the financial soundness of the future concessionaire had been raised by its competitor, the group Tranchant , and municipal officials in the voting.

Tipsheet. One detail had put the chip to ear some: during the tender procedure, after the filing of nominations, the amount of the bond had been capped at 1.5 million euros. Initially, she had to cover everything, including staff costs, which are 2.30 million euros, was stressed at the time Romain Tranchant .

Concerns had been swept a backhander by André Labarrère. “You think I’m pretty dumb to select any bid without financial security, without being sure of the games? “Had he told the employees of the casino on January 10. “The city of Pau has an interest in having money and slots! “Had added the former mayor. In the letter he read before the National Commission, to support the request for authorization of the games, he said: “The guarantees afforded by the company are serious. Its leaders are professionals in the game.”

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Casino Barrière de Besançon open Thursday, June 29 its new games room with two tables devoted to Roulette and two blackjack. Access to rooms is free games since May 1 (prohibited to minors). Closed for 23 years, the Casino Barrière has been completely renovated under the theme of time. Its reopening was accompanied by the recruitment of five new dealers, in addition to the existing team, who will introduce beginners to the game rules.

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Roulette, Blackjack … ten dealers beginning of Cépière enter their third week of learning. On 1 August, at the opening of the temporary casino, all based on these youths, selected from over two hundred applicants for their memory and dexterity. In the absence of slot machines for a year, the facility director is not an illusion: “We do a clientele of regulars and insiders,” said David Parr. It will nevertheless benefit from a favorable regulatory climate. Indeed, if access to the gaming tables used to cost ten euros, it is free since May 1.

The “regional competitors’ casino Toulouse have already swallowed happily into the breach. After three days of work, the casino Castera Verduzan (Gers) placed at its gaming tables in the middle of the slot machines. “There are four times more players around the table and we won by friendliness,” says Stéphane Michenaud, Chairman of the Board of Directors. A Saliès-du-Salat, where 95% of customers are Toulouse, Guy Meyrieu has not taken the option of “mixing”. But says he, “the attendance tables rose 50%.” The arrival of a competitor in the Pink City does not sleep as CEO of Open Casinos. “There’s room for everybody, because we do not even touch 15% of potential players. When they have been educated in the game in Toulouse, we will bring them home, “he assures.

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(Reuters) – From February 1 through April 2006, second quarter of its fiscal year, the Company Fermière Casino Municipal de Cannes, which operates two casinos (Casino Barrière de Cannes Croisette and Barrière Les Princes) and two hotels (Hotel Majestic and Gray d’Albion), achieved a turnover of 26.095 million euros, a slight increase of 1% annual rate.

SFC MC explained that the hosting business, after a very satisfactory first quarter, remains unchanged from the previous period as a result of the loss in the second quarter with a strong contribution to Congress on this activity. Activity Restoration, down 9%, the loss suffered ortement this congress. The games business, which grew 11%, benefited from the Slots at Casino Barrière Les Princes operated since March 3, 2005.

Throughout the first half, sales were up 4% due to increase of 8% recorded in Q1.

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Lucien Barriere should be tempted by the Internet for New Year’s Eve. “We are preparing with technology partners to open a casino on-line by early 2007, said Dominique Desseigne, president of the group. It is an irreversible movement. Two thousand gambling websites are accessible from France. It would be contrary to the interests of casinos hard, but also that of the French state, to ignore this reality. ”

After Partouche , the French number one in its turn intends to open a site abroad, the French law banning the moment Internet casinos. Dominique Desseigne as Partouche , his great rival, denounced the distortion of competition with the PMU and French Games. One and one already offer games on the web. But Dominique Desseigne denies confrontation with the government. “We favor dialogue,” he explains. Legislation must evolve and adapt to Europe. “

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Company Head in the Clouds announced that its subsidiary French Society of Casinos , acquired last April from Groupe Partouche , just get in first allocation an authorization to operate 50 slot machines in its Casino Port La Nouvelle (in Aude). The commissioning of these machines will take place from June 26

The resumption of the French Society of casinos is accompanied by an assignment of certain non-strategic assets. Café Carmen, located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, has been sold for 1 Million Euros and Moroccan Mirage Casino located in Agadir is the subject of a sale agreement for 2.5 ME (83.5 % of capital). Finally, a real estate property is being sold for 6 ME.

For fiscal 2006, The Head in the Clouds maintains its goal of EBITDA above 3.5 ME and will present its new structure and its new name during the General Meeting of June 29

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Few voices for the extension

“Do not participate. “Refusal to vote. “No participation.” Remarkably, fifteen councilors out of forty-nine did not participate in the vote on the casino yesterday. Mayor (PS) Yves Urieta asked elected to entrust the management group Tranchant a year older, the time to remake a new tender. He got the green light, but with thirty-four votes “for” only.

The line, part of its majority and the left opposition decided not to enter the ballot, to show their disapproval. “What a wonderful irony to see us offer to make two decisions opposed to a few months apart,” said Eric Schatz (Left Opposition, Greens and open list). Still suspicious difficult to dissociate herself from her beloved majority, Deputy Henri Lambert has also decided not to vote. “I can not participate in a decision without further details, legal or otherwise,” he said.

Investigation. Pierre-Louis Faure, who should have taken the reins of municipal casino from 28 June was in the room. His group was selected on February 10 by the City Council after a process of delegation of public service. It would take over the group’s Edge for fifteen years. The choice in favor, carried by Andre Labarrère and his majority, was then criticized by the opposition of right and left. But last week, June 13, the new mayor Yves Urieta terminated the contract between the city and the group Faure. The reason given is this: instead of a surety to sign the contract on February 27, the group produced only Faure “commitment to principle.”

But was this the only reason for the turnaround? The council was buzzing yesterday the report of the interministerial commission of inquiry on public procurement and public service delegations, whose content has “leaked” in the press. The mission has examined the case Pau demand justice, to which the group Tranchant filed a complaint. She concluded that there would indeed continue to matter for the crime of favoritism.

This offense is punishable by the Penal Code of two years imprisonment and 30,000 euros fine.

Judicial proceedings. The argument of the crime of favoritism “is another timber” as you advance, yesterday launched Martine Lignières-Cassou (PS). “What I fear, said the chosen PS is that the weak legal arguments that you use exposes the City to pay the group of Faure substantial damages.” Faure group has indeed instituted proceedings before the tribunal.

“The report of the commission is nothing in my decision,” said Yves Urieta. “I do not know. It will release myself. “My feeling is that my predecessor (Andre Labarrère Ed.) was in good faith. Because he had confidence in the group of Pierre-Louis Faure, he had agreed that payment of the deposit is not made on February 27. But this does not mean not two weeks before the deadline! The mayor also said that if the casino would stop, the city was losing two million euros per year and employees would be unemployed.

Irony dates, today is the day after the city council that saw the group’s concession Tranchant extended by one year, the tribunal considers the merits of the complaint Edge against the city of Pau. She is several months.

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Third French operator of casinos, Moliflor Entertainment has filed a building permit the future establishment that wants to build in Lans-en-Vercors (Isere). After obtaining all approvals, construction could start at the end of first quarter 2007. It represents an investment of 4 million euros. Its opening is scheduled for 2008. It is a tourist clientele, but mostly … just like Grenoble, moreover, the establishment of rival Villard-de-Lans , 10 miles away. Competition should be fierce. Moliflor Entertainment operates two other facilities in the Rhone-Alps: the casino of Uriage (11 million euros in 2005 turnover, 90 employees), in Isère, who filed an application to host twenty additional slots (130 today), and the casino Montrond (Loire), which has, meanwhile, 180 “bandits” and employs 120 people for a turnover of 13.7 million euros last year.

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